US7278583B2

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US7278583B2
Application number: US11/127,744
Authority: US
Inventors: Jiunn-Chung Lee
Original assignee: Apacer Technology Inc
Current assignee: Apacer Technology Inc
Priority date: 2004-10-12
Filing date: 2005-05-12
Publication date: 2007-10-09
Also published as: TW200612348A; US20060080488A1; TWI295035B

Abstract

A composite Compact Flash card includes a storage unit, a slot, a mechanical switch, a switch detecting circuit and a control unit. The slot is used for plugging an external small-sized memory card therein. The mechanical switch is electrically connected to the slot for selecting one of the storage unit and the small-sized memory card to store data therein and generating a switching signal according to the selecting result. The switch detecting circuit is electrically connected to the mechanical switch, and generates a control signal in response to the switching signal. The control unit is electrically connected to the storage unit, the slot and the switch detecting circuit for controlling an accessing operation of the storage unit or the small-sized memory card.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a Compact Flash card, and more particularly to a composite Compact Flash card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With digitalized trend, many consumable electronic products are developed to integrate high-quality digital signals into diverse apparatuses. With increasing development of microelectronic technologies, the functions of the consumable electronic products are diverse and the sizes of the consumable electronic products are minimized. In addition, these consumable electronic products become essential because they are portable and convenient.

Nowadays, since the consumable electronic products such as digital still cameras and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are popular, memory cards are more important. Generally, the memory cards are employed to store data files such as the image captured from the digital still camera or the data files stored in the personal digital assistant.

The common standard specifications of memory cards comprise for example Compact Flash cards (CF cards), Secure Digital cards (SD cards), Multi-Media cards (MMC cards), Memory Stick cards (MS cards), and so on. Since the CF card has the largest volume and area among these memory cards and a high market share, the CF card is widely used in the consumable electronic products. In contrast, since the SD card, the MMC card, the XD card and the MS card have smaller volumes and areas, these cards are classified as small-sized memory cards.

Referring toFIG. 1, a schematic circuit configuration of a conventional CF card is shown. TheCF card10 comprises aCF interface connector11, acontrol unit12 and aflash memory13. Via theCF interface connector11, theCF card10 can be in communication with an external electronic device (not shown) compatible with the CF interface. By thecontrol unit12, data are read or stored from/into theflash memory13.

As known, specified memory cards are compatible with specified digital still cameras or personal digital assistants. If the memory card is incompatible with the electronic product, the problem of wasting resources occurs. For example, if a user has originally a personal digital assistant compatible with the CF card and wants to buy another personal digital assistant compatible with the MMC card, it is necessary to buy the MMC card because the original CF card fails to be used in the new personal digital assistant.

In view of the above-described disadvantages resulted from the prior art and the advantages of the conventional CF card, the applicant has diligently developed a composite CF card according to the present invention through wholehearted experience and research.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite CF card having additional memory space for accessing the external small-sized memory card so as to increase convenience and flexibility thereof and overcome the problem of resource waste.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composite Compact Flash card. The composite Compact Flash card comprises a storage unit, a slot, a mechanical switch, a switch detecting circuit and a control unit. The slot is used for plugging an external small-sized memory card therein. The mechanical switch is electrically connected to the slot for selecting one of the storage unit and the small-sized memory card to store data therein and generating a switching signal according to the selecting result. The switch detecting circuit is electrically connected to the mechanical switch, and generates a control signal in response to the switching signal. The control unit is electrically connected to the storage unit, the slot and the switch detecting circuit for controlling an accessing operation of the storage unit or the small-sized memory card.

Preferably, the storage unit is a flash memory.

In an embodiment, the control unit comprises a controller, a random access memory (RAM) and a read-only memory (ROM). The controller is electrically connected to the switch detecting circuit for controlling the accessing operation of the storage unit or the small-sized memory card in response to the control signal. The random access memory (RAM) and the read-only memory (ROM) are electrically connected to the controller so as to store data required for the controller.

In an embodiment, the control unit further comprises a flash memory management layer circuit and a small-sized memory card protocol layer. The flash memory management layer circuit is electrically connected to the flash memory and the controller for using as a first communication medium between the flash memory and the controller. The small-sized memory card protocol layer is connected to the slot and the controller for using as a second communication medium between the slot and the controller.

In an embodiment, the composite Compact Flash card further comprises a CF interface connector electrically connected to the control unit and an external electronic device compatible with a CF interface.

Preferably, the external electronic device is a card reader, a digital still camera, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer or a portable hard disc.

Preferably, the small-sized memory card is selected from a group consisting of a SD card, a MMC card, a XD card and a MS card.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composite Compact Flash card. The composite Compact Flash card comprises a plastic frame, a substrate, a slot and a plurality of electronic components. The substrate is disposed within the plastic frame. The slot is disposed within the plastic frame and arranged on a first surface of the substrate for plugging an external small-sized memory card therein. The plurality of electronic components arranged on a second surface of the substrate.

In an embodiment, the composite Compact Flash card further comprises a first metallic cover and a second metallic cover. The first metallic cover is disposed above the plastic frame. The second metallic cover is disposed under the plastic frame. The first metallic cover, the plastic frame and the second metallic cover are formed into a memory card package box.

In an embodiment, the substrate is a printed circuit board.

In an embodiment, the electronic components include a control unit, a flash memory and a switch detecting circuit.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composite Compact Flash card. The composite Compact Flash card comprises a plastic frame, a substrate, a slot and an electronic chip. The substrate is disposed within the plastic frame. The slot is disposed within the plastic frame and arranged on a first surface of the substrate for plugging an external small-sized memory card therein. The electronic chip is arranged on the first surface of the substrate and adjacent to the slot.

In an embodiment, the electronic chip includes a control unit, a flash memory and a switch detecting circuit, which are packaged in a stacked form.

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit configuration of a conventional CF card;

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit configuration of a composite CF card according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3(a) is an exploded view of a composite CF card according to the present invention;

FIG. 3(b) is an assembled view of a composite CF card according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a printed circuit board used in a composite CF card according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.

Referring toFIG. 2, a schematic circuit configuration of a composite CF card according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Thecomposite CF card20 comprises aCF interface connector21, acontrol unit22, astorage unit23, aswitch detecting circuit24, aslot25 and amechanical switch26. Thecomposite CF card20 has additional memory space for accessing the small-sized memory card so as to enhance the memory space of thecomposite CF card20 and the compatibility between thecomposite CF card20 and the small-sized memory card. Anexemplary storage unit23 is a flash memory, which is a built-in memory space of thecomposite CF card20 for storing data files.

Via theCF interface connector21, thecomposite CF card20 can be in communication with an external electronic device (not shown) compatible with the CF interface. Examples of the external electronic device include but are not limited to card readers, digital still cameras, personal digital assistants, personal computers or portable hard discs.

Theslot25 is electrically connected to controlunit22 and themechanical switch26 for plugging the small-sized memory card (not shown) therein. Thecontrol unit22 can read or store data from/into the small-sized memory card.

Themechanical switch26 has a select button (not shown) and two terminals A and B. By means of themechanical switch26, either theflash memory23 of thecomposite CF card20 or the small-sized memory card plugged in theslot25 is manually selected as the memory space for storing data. On one hand, if the select button of themechanical switch26 is stirred such that the terminal A is selected to electrically connect with the small-sized memory card plugged in theslot25, the small-sized memory card is employed to store data. In this circumstance, thecomposite CF card20 can directly access the external small-sized memory card. That is to say, the external electronic device compatible with the CF interface will be communicated with thecontroller221 of thecontrol unit22 via theCF interface connector21, and directly access the external small-sized memory card by means of thecontroller221. On the other hand, if the select button of themechanical switch26 is stirred such that the terminal B is electrically connected with theflash memory23 but the terminal A is disconnected with theslot25. In this circumstance, thecomposite CF card20 can directly access theflash memory23, and be used as the general CF card. According to the selecting result, a switching signal is asserted from themechanical switch26.

Theswitch detecting circuit24 is electrically connected to themechanical switch26. In response to the switching signal issued from themechanical switch26, a control signal is generated from theswitch detecting circuit24.

Thecontrol unit22 is electrically connected to theCF interface connector21, theflash memory23, theswitch detecting circuit24 and theslot25, and comprises thecontroller221, a random access memory (RAM)222, a read-only memory (ROM)223, a flash memorymanagement layer circuit224 and a small-sized memorycard protocol layer225. In response to the control signal issued from theswitch detecting circuit24, thecontroller221 will control the reading/writing operations of the built-inflash memory23 of thecomposite CF card20 or the small-sized memory card. Once thecomposite CF card20 of the present invention is inserted into the external electronic device compatible with the CF interface, the external electronic device can access the built-inflash memory23 or the small-sized memory card.

The random access memory (RAM)222 and the read-only memory (ROM)223 are employed to store the data required for operating thecontroller221. The flash memorymanagement layer circuit224 is electrically connected to theflash memory23 and thecontroller221 and used as a first communication medium between theflash memory23 and thecontroller221. The small-sized memorycard protocol layer225 is connected to theslot25 and thecontroller221 and used as a second communication medium between theslot225 and thecontroller221. In such manner, the small-sized memory card will be in communication with thecontroller221 of thecomposite CF card20 via theslot25. Since thecontroller221 selectively controls theflash memory23 and the small-sized memory card according to the selecting result of themechanical switch26, the functions of thecomposite CF card20 are enhanced.

Examples of the small-sized memory card include but are limited to SD cards, MMC cards, XD cards, MS cards or other cards having smaller volume and area than the CF card and capable of being plugged in theslot25.

Thecomposite CF card20 in the above embodiments conforms to the standards proposed by Compact Flash Association. These standards include two types, i.e. a TYPE I standard (height: 3.3 mm) and a TYPE II standard (height: 5.0 mm). The area of each type is 36.4 mm×42.8 mm, which is smaller than that of this memory card. TheCF interface connector21 is a 50-pin receptacle and has the largest transmission speed among the existing memory cards. The data transmission interface can be operated in a memory mode, an I/O mode and a true-IDE mode.

FIG. 3(a) is an exploded view of a composite CF card according to the present invention, andFIG. 3(b) is an assembled view of a composite CF card according to the present invention. Thecomposite CF card30 conforms to the TYPE II standard (height: 5.0 mm), and comprises a firstmetallic cover31, asubstrate32, aplastic frame33, aCF interface connector34, aslot35 and a secondmetallic cover36.

The firstmetallic cover31 is disposed above theplastic frame33. The secondmetallic cover36 is disposed under theplastic frame33. The firstmetallic cover31, theplastic frame33 and the secondmetallic cover36 are formed into a memory card package box as shown inFIG. 3(b). In this embodiment, aU-shaped notch311 is arranged in the memory card package box for facilitating inserting or removing the small-sized memory card37.

Thesubstrate32 is a printed circuit board disposed between theplastic frame33 and the firstmetallic cover31. Severalelectronic components321 including thecontrol unit22, theflash memory23 and theswitch detecting circuit24 as shown inFIG. 2 are mounted on the printedcircuit board32. TheCF interface connector34 is disposed on one side of theplastic frame33. The inner side of theCF interface connector34 has a plurality ofpins341 electrically connected to the printedcircuit board32 and theslot35. Whereas, the outer side of theCF interface connector34 is electrically connected to the external electronic device compatible with the CF interface. Arecess structure331 is formed in theplastic frame33 corresponding to theU-shaped notch311. The small-sized memory card37 can be inserted into theslot35 via therecess structure331. Theslot35 is disposed within theplastic frame33 and on a first surface of the printedcircuit board32 for inserting the small-sized memory card37 therein.

Thecomposite CF card30 conforming to the TYPE II standard (height: 5.0 mm) has the layout configuration as follows. Theslot35 for accommodating the small-sized memory card37 and theelectronic components321 are disposed on the first and second surfaces of the printedcircuit board32, respectively. The height of theslot35 for the existing small-sized memory card such as the SD card or MMC card is approximately 2.65 mm, and that for MS card is approximately 2.4 mm. Since the overall height of the electronic component321 (1.2 mm), the printed circuit board32 (0.4 mm) and the slot35 (2.65 mm or 2.4 mm) is less than the height specification of the TYPE II standard (height: 5.0 mm), the total height of thecomposite CF card30 including the firstmetallic cover31 and the secondmetallic cover32 conforms with the TYPE II standard. Accordingly, thecomposite CF card30 of the present invention is applied to any peripheral devices compatible with the TYPE II-standard CF card, for example card readers, digital still cameras, personal digital assistants, personal computers or portable hard discs.

Thecomposite CF card30 conforming to the TYPE I standard (height: 3.3 mm) has the layout configuration as follows. Thecontrol unit22, theflash memory23 and theswitch detecting circuit24 are packaged asmicroelectronic chips38 in a stacked form as shown inFIG. 4, thereby reducing the overall volume thereof. Themicroelectronic chips38 and theslot35 are disposed on the first surface of the printedcircuit board32 and conforms to the TYPE I standard. In this embodiment, no component is disposed on the second surface of the printedcircuit board32, but all components including theslot35 and themicroelectronic chips38 are disposed on the first surface of the printedcircuit board32. Themicroelectronic chips38 are disposed on opposite sides of the printedcircuit board32 and adjacent to theslot35. Since the overall height of the printed circuit board32 (0.4 mm) and the slot35 (2.65 mm or 2.4 mm) is less than the height specification of the TYPE I standard (height: 3.3 mm), the total height of thecomposite CF card30 including the firstmetallic cover31 and the secondmetallic cover32 conforms with the TYPE I standard. Accordingly, thecomposite CF card30 of the present invention is applied to any peripheral devices compatible with the TYPE I-standard CF card, for example card readers, digital still cameras, personal digital assistants, personal computers or portable hard discs.

From the above description, in addition to the original memory space of the conventional CF card, the composite CF card of the present invention has additional memory space for accessing the external small-sized memory card. In other words, the composite CF card of the present invention can be used as a CF card or a small-sized memory card so as to increase convenience and flexibility thereof and overcome the problem of resource waste.

While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

Claims

1. A composite Compact Flash card comprising:

a storage unit;

a slot for plugging an external small-sized memory card therein;

a mechanical switch electrically connected to said slot for selecting one of said storage unit and said small-sized memory card to store data therein and generating a switching signal according to the selecting result;

a switch detecting circuit electrically connected to said mechanical switch, and generating a control signal in response to said switching signal; and

a control unit electrically connected to said storage unit, said slot and said switch detecting circuit for controlling an accessing operation of said storage unit or said small-sized memory card.

2. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 1 wherein said storage unit is a flash memory.

3. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 2 wherein said control unit comprises:

a controller electrically connected to said switch detecting circuit for controlling said accessing operation of said storage unit or said small-sized memory card in response to said control signal; and

a random access memory (RAM) and a read-only memory (ROM) electrically connected to said controller so as to store data required for said controller.

4. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 3 wherein said control unit further comprises:

a flash memory management layer circuit electrically connected to said flash memory and said controller for using as a first communication medium between said flash memory and said controller; and

a small-sized memory card protocol layer connected to said slot and said controller for using as a second communication medium between said slot and said controller.

5. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 1 further comprising a CF interface connector electrically connected to said control unit and an external electronic device compatible with a CF interface.

6. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 5 wherein said external electronic device is a card reader, a digital still camera, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer or a portable hard disc.

7. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 1 wherein said small-sized memory card is selected from a group consisting of a SD card, a MMC card, a XD card and a MS card.

8. A composite Compact Flash card comprising:

a plastic frame;

a substrate disposed within said plastic frame;

a slot disposed within said plastic frame and arranged on a first surface of said substrate for plugging an external small-sized memory card therein; and

a plurality of electronic components arranged on a second surface of said substrate wherein said electronic components further include a control unit, a fresh memory card and a switch detecting circuit.

9. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 8 further comprising:

a first metallic cover disposed above said plastic frame; and

a second metallic cover disposed under said plastic frame,

wherein said first metallic cover, said plastic frame and said second metallic cover are formed into a memory card package box.

10. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 8 wherein said substrate is a printed circuit board.

11. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 8 wherein said small-sized memory card is selected from a group consisting of a SD card, a MMC card, a XD card and a MS card.

12. A composite Compact Flash card comprising:

a plastic frame;

a substrate disposed within said plastic frame;

an electronic chip arranged on said first surface of said substrate and adjacent to said slot wherein said electronic chip includes a control unit, a flash memory and a switch detecting circuit.

13. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 12 further comprising:

a first metallic cover disposed above said plastic frame; and

a second metallic cover disposed under said plastic frame,

14. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 12 wherein said substrate is a printed circuit board.

15. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 12 wherein said small-sized memory card is selected from a group consisting of a SD card, a MMC card, a XD card and a MS card.

16. The composite Compact Flash card according toclaim 12 wherein said control unit, said flash memory and said switch detecting circuit are packaged in a stacked form.